Folding prie-dieu



May 19, 1936. w. F. MSM i 2,041,196

FOLDING PRIE-DIEU Filed Feb. 10. 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet l fnl/enfer" May 19,' 1936. w. F. I IsKA v FOLDING PRIE-DIEU Filed Feb. 1o, 1934l s sheets-sheet `2 y 19, 1936. w. F. LISKA FLDING PRIEQDIEU y Filed Feb. 10, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jiu/milo aL-kam fr Patented May I9, 1936 PATENT OFFICE FOLDING William F. risks, chic PME-DIEU ago, Ill., assigner to Holland Brass Works, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation oi' Illinois Application February 1 8 Claims.

'This invention relates to a prie dieu, and particularly to such a device of the character described, which may be readily transported manually from place to place.

One object of the present invention is to provide a structure of the character described, which is oi suitable size and' proportions when in use, and `Wlfiich may be readily folded into a comparatively small space of minimum dimensionsfor convenient handling and transporting or moving the device from one place to another.

Another object of the invention is to provide a structure wherein all the elements of the structure are permanently connected together and suitably arranged to permit Iof their being positioned in operative relationship and secured together to provide a sale and efficient structure. ,y

other object of the invention is to provide a structure wherein the elements comprised therein may be readily moved, with relation to each other, into folded arrangement to provide a, package of relatively small size of minimum dimensions for convenient handling in moving or transporting the device from place to place.

Another object of the invention is to provide a structure wherein portions of certain oi' the ele-- ments are protected against damage from contact with each other when the device is in folded position.

d further'object of the invention is to provide a structure wherein the device and surroundings may be suitably illuminated, if desired.

il still further object of the invention is to irnprove devices of the character described in sundry details hereinafter referred to and particularly 1 pointed out in the appended claims.

dit

@ne embodiment of the present invention is shown for illustrative purposes in the accompany ing drawings, in which:

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary rear elevational view of a portion of the structure illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, having portions brolren away to villustrate certain oi the connecting or locking means; l

Fig. t is a iront elevational view' of the device shown in folded condition; i

Fig. 5 is an enlarged end elevational view, showing the device ln folded condition as illustrated, in

iront view, in idg. i;

, Wig. 6 is au enlarged fragmentary plan sectional o, 1934, certaine. `710,655

view of the portion of the device illustrating the arrangement of the supporting means and locking means, and taken substantially as indicated by the line --G of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation' through a portion of the arm rest,'illus 'trating the lighting arrangement associated therewith, and taken substantially as indicated by the line 1;-1 of Fig.. 1;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional elevational 10 view of a portion of the lighting arrangement, taken substantially as. indicated by the. line t--t of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, of a portion of the arm rest, illustrating the manner of mounting a iiood light or the like thereon.

The illustrative embodiment'of the present invention shown in the drawings comprises a substantially rectangular frame member indicated, as a Whole, by the numeral? Il and constituting a knee rest on which a kneeling pad l2 may be mounted, preferably, adjacent the front edge thereof, and

' preferably adjacent the respective ends of the knee` rest 4ll are provided spacing stops il.

v Positioned adjacent the rear edge portion of the knee rest il and forming a part thereof is an upstanding portion lll to the upper edge of which a frame constituting an arm rest, indicated as a whole by the numeral i5, is connected by means 30 of a piano hinge l li, and mounted preferably along the upper edge portion of the arm rest l5 is a pad ita.

Positioned preferably below the pad ita and errtending longitudinally of the arm rest lli is a lamp housing il' having brackets it mounted therein adapted to receive a plurality of lamps it.

Formed in the lamp housing ll, adjacent the lamps it', are a plurality oi apertures 2t through which light may be transmitted for illuminating the kneeling pad il of the knee rest il, and `formed in the arm rest it adjacent the lamp housing are a plurality of openings 2l through which light may be directedto the rear oi" the prie dieu.

For conveniently connecting the lighting system. to a source of current supply, the lamps it may he provided with flexible conductors or cords having a terminal connection (not shown) hy which the lamps may be connected to a wall soclret or the like, wherever the prie dieu may be positioned for use.A

The arm rest it, when in use, is intended to occupy a substantially vertical position as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, but by reason ofthe hinge l the arm rest in spaced relation to the knee rest,

and to maintain the lamp housing Il and arm rest I5 out of contact with the kneeling pad I2 when the knee rest and arm rest are in folded position.

The knee rest II is shown in the present instance as provided adjacent its respective corners with longitudinally extending leg portions 23, and for supporting the knee rest and arm rest in elevated position, a plurality of supporting frame members or supports indicated as a whole by the numeral 24 are positioned adjacent the respective ends of the knee rest II and connected thereto by means of a plurality of links 25 pivotally connected adjacent one of their ends to the frame supports 24 as indicated at 26, and at their opposite ends to the leg portions 23 of the knee rest I I as indicated at 21.

For connecting the frame supports 24 to the arm rest I5 in a manner to retain the arm rest in substantially vertical position, the frame supports 24 are provided adjacent their rear edges with vertically disposed brace portions 28 having inwardly-extending lugs 29 formed thereon adjacent their upper ends and adapted to be positioned in apertures 30 formed in the vertical side portions of the arm rest I5, as clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 6, the lugs 29 being provided preferably on their upper sides with notches or recesses 3l adapted to receive spring actuated latches 32 pivotally mounted at 33 on Vthe arm rest,and adapted to be manually operated to remove the latch 32 from the recess 3 I It will be observed that when the frame supports 24 are in their upright or frame supporting position, the supports snugly engage the ends of the knee rest II as clearly shown in Fig. 1, and with the upwardly extending brace portions 28 of the frame supports 24 secured to the arm rest I5 by the latch 32, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, the knee rest II, arm rest I5 and frame supports 24 are secured together'against relative movement in a manner to provide a substantially rigid structure'.

It will be observed by reference, particularly, to Figs. 3, 4,'-and 5 that the frame supports 24 upon being released from the latch 32 are adapted v to be swung downwardly and inwardly as -indicated by the dot and dash line in Fig. 3 to a position beneath and in substantially parallel relation with respect to the knee rest Il, and in a manner to occupy a position below the body of the knee rest and above 'the lowermost side of the leg portion'23 of the knee rest II, as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5 and by dotted lines in Fig-3. It will be observed that by such an arrangement, the frame supports 24, when folded, are adapted to occupy a position entirely within the lateral and longitudinal dimensions of the knee rest, and that when the frame supports 24 are so positioned and the larm rest I5 is folded down as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 and by dotted lines in Fig.2,the entire structure is adapted to occupy a comparatively small space of minimum dimensions for convenient handling and transporting of the device from one place to another. Furthermore, a device of the construction and arrangement shown and described avoids the possibility of loss or the misplacing of parts such as is prevalent in socalled knock-down structures, for the reason that inthe present arrangement all of the elements are either rigidly or hingedly connected together and relatively movable with respect to each other so that they may be readily secured together in a set-up arrangement which is both substantially rigid and safe.

For mounting a portable lamp or ilood light as shown in Fig. 9, the arm rest I5 may be provided with brackets 34, as clearly shown in Figs..

,1, 2, and 9, and in which lamp holders 35 may be positioned for supporting a portable lamp 36 as may be desired.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that the present invention provides a novel and eflicient structure in a folding prie dieu by which the device may be readily set up for use wherever desired, and which may be readily folded to provide a package of relatively small dimensions for convenient handling in moving or transporting the device from place'to place. Furthermore, that suitable means are provided for efficient illuminating of the device and surroundings to insure safety to its users, and that the lighting equipment and portions of the device are suitably protected against damage from contact with other portions thereof.

Obviously, the present invention is not limited to the precise constructions and arrangement shown and described, as the same may be variously modified. AMoreover, all the features of the invention need not be used conjointly, as the same may be used to advantage in variously different combinations and sub-combinations.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a device of the class described, the combination of an elongated knee rest, a normally upright-,support having an arm rest at its upper y.

end, said support havingl apertures formed therein adjacent its opposite ends and hingedly connected to said knee rest adjacent one edge thereof, short supporting members hingedly connected to said knee rest and adapted to be folded into a common horizontal plane beneath the knee rest, said supporting members having brace portions extending upwardly from the knee rest adjacent the rear portions thereof, lugs on said brace portions engageable with the apertures formed in said support, and means on said support engageable with said lugs of the brace .portions for securing the arm rest support to said brace portions and maintainingv the knee rest,

arm rest and supporting members in fixed relation with respect toeach other.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination o f an elongated knee rest, a vertically disposed support carrying an arm rest at its upper end hingedly connected to said knee rest adjacent one edge thereof, said arm rest support having vertically disposed flanges at its sides having elongated apertures formed therein,

3. In a device of the class described, the coml bination of an elongated knee rest, a support bers positioned, respectively, adjacent the ends 'of said knee rest, a plurality of links hingedly connected to said knee rest and said supporting members, said supporting members being adapted to be folded downwardly and inwardly `into a common plane beneath said knee rest and having brace portions extending upwardly from the knee rest adjacent their rear end portions, inwardly extending recessed lugs on said brace portions engageable with the apertures formed in the said arm rest support, and'manually operable spring actuated latches on said arm rest support engageaole with the recesses in thelugs of the brace portions of the supporting members for securing the arm rest support to said brace portions andmaintaining the knee rest, arm rest and supporting members in xed relation with respect to each other.

4, In a. device of the class described, the combination of an elongatedknee rest adapted to occupy a substantially horizontal position, a support carrying an arm rest at its upper end hingedly connected to said knee vrest adjacent the rear edge thereof and adapted to occupy a substantially vertical position with respect thereto and,

to be swung down to a position above and in substantially parallel relation to saidknee rest, relativelyshort supporting members hingedly connected to said knee rest adjacent the ends thereof andadapted to be folded into. a common plane beneath the knee rest, cooperable means on said supporting members and arm rest support for securing the supporting members and arm rest support together and maintain the kneeV rest,4 arm rest and supporting members in fixed relation to each other, a'lamp housing on said arm rest and spacing stops on saidv knee rest engagcable with said arm rest support for maintaining said lamp housing and arm rest in spaced relation to said knee rest when the arm rest support is positioned above and in substantially parallel relation thereto. h

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of an elongated 'knee rest adapted, normally, to occupy a' substantially horizontal position and having a kneeling pad thereon, a support carrying an arm rest at its upper end hingedly connected, to said knee rest adjacent one edge thereof and adapted, normally, to occupy a substantially vertical position with respect thereto and to be swung down to a position above and in i substantially parallel relation to said knee rest,

. short supporting members hingedly connected to said knee rest adjacent its ends, cooperable means on said supporting members and arm rest support, respectively, for securing the supporting members and arm rest support together and maintaining the knee rest, arm 'rest and supporting members/in fixed V'relation with respect to each other, a' transversely inclined pad on said arm rest and'extending forwardly from adjacent the upper edge thereof and of said support, a lamp housing on said arm rest below said lastmentioned pad, and spacing stops on said(Y knee rest engageable with said arm rest `support adjacent itsends for maintaining said lamp housing vand arm rest in `spaced relation to said kneeling pad and knee rest when the arm rest support is positioned above and in substantially parallel y relation with respect to the knee rest.

6. In a, device of the class described, the combination of an elongated knee rest adapted, normally, to occupy a substantially horizontal position and having a kneeling pad thereon, an elongated support carrying an arm rest at its upper end and being of a length substantially equal .to that of said knee rest, said arm rest support having openings formed therein adjacent its uplper edge` and being hingedly connected to said knee rest adjacent one edge thereof and adapted, normally, to occupy a substantially vertical position with respect thereto and to be swung down to a position-above and in substantially parallel relation to said knee rest, short supporting members having upwardly extending brace portions connected to said knee rest,

thereon and hingedly cooperable means on said brace portions and arm rest support, respectively, for securing the supporting members and arm rest support together when the latter is in its vertical position and for maintaining the knee rest, arm rest and supporting members inxed relation with respect to leach other, a transversely inclined pad on said arm rest extending forwardly from adjacent the upper edge thereof, an apertured lamp housing on said arm rest adjacent the openings formed in said arm rest support and below said. last-mentioned pad, spacing stops on said knee rest adjacent theends thereof and engageable, respectively, with said arm rest support adjacent its ends for maintaining said lamp housing and arm rest in spaced relation to said kneeling pad and knee rest when the arm rest support is positioned above and insubstantially vparallel relation with respect to the knee rest.

7. In a, folding prie dieu, the combination of an elongated knee rest adapted to occupy a substantially horizontal position, a support carrying an arm rest at its upper end hingedly connected tovsaid knee rest adjacent the rear side thereof and adapted to occupy a substantially vertical position with respect thereto and to be swung downto a position above and in substantially parallel relation to said knee rest, relatively shortA supporting members hingedly connected to said knee rest adjacent the ends thereof and adapted to be folded into a common plane beneath the kneerest, and cooperable means on said supporting members and arm rest support for securing the supporting members and arm rest support together and maintain the knee rest, arm rest and supporting members in fixed relation to each other.

8. In a folding prie dieu,-the combination of an elongated knee restadapted to occupy a substantially horizontal position, a support carrying an arm rest at its`upper end hingedly connected to said knee rest adjacent the rear side thereof and adapted to occupy a substantially vertical position with respect thereto and to be swung ,down to a position aboveand in substantially parallel relation to said knee rest, a plurest, and cooperable means on said supporting" members and arm rest support for securing the supporting members and arm rest support together and maintain the knee rest, arm rest and supporting members in xed relation to each other. 

